Stephen Fry in America. Photographs by Vanda Vucicevic

“Stephen Fry in America” is exactly that: multiple pictures of the author in each of the 50 states, with text that shares not only his experiences in each state but also historical and cultural elements that make the state unique. A colored column for each state lists Key Facts that include factors by which it is commonly identified: Abbreviation, Nickname, Flower, Tree, etc. but also Well-known residents and neighbors. That last factor I found especially interesting, because this is rarely summarized along with the more common categories. Fry’s text is also interesting, a combination of historical background with his unique experiences while also visiting the state. The photographs are not so compelling—do we really need to see Fry in every state? The text is proof enough of his visits: I really do not need to see hundreds of unexceptional images of the author to convince me that he was there. The text and Key Facts columns are enough to make the book interesting and insightful; the theme and variations of Fry in situ are largely a waste of space.

The book was a gift and I trust it was a good read; he is a good reader. My problem was determinig the delivery date. It is very difficult to know when arrival and delivery will occur, given the intentionally very broad guestimate of delivery date.

It takes a true British man to remind us how fun our crazy country can be. Reminds me somewhat of the book 'Blue Highways,' since Fry takes the reader off the beaten path that traditional American media grab for a sound bite. The photos are vivid, the characters he meets are all familiar; even if you don't know the name, you know someone exactly like that. The series on the book is televised on PBS. In the meantime, make sure to follow Stephen on Twitter as 'stephenfry.'

I loved this book. There are so many books out there with similar themes, but nothing quite like this. The photography is beautiful, but not so "obvious". Most travel books highlight very well-known tourist destinations. But here, Stephen mixes revered landmarks with small businesses and local people. It really gives you a good look at life in these places. However, I don't really recommend this book as a travel guide of any sort. Stephen was obviously in such a rush to visit every state, that he doesn't really spend a lot of time anywhere. So for travel interests, it doesn't provide enough insight to be of much value. Instead, this is a book for fans of Stephen Fry. This book is full of Stephen's famous wit, charisma, and humor. And because the narrative is split into 50 sections for the states, it makes a great casual read. There's a lot of photography here, so you could finish it in short time, but I preferred taking my time, reading 2-3 states per day over a few weeks. Like I said, Stephen doesn't have a lot of time to focus on any one state, so it doesn't feel so rushed if you take your time with it. I loved every page.

This is an unusual and highly enjoyable travel book. Fry crosses America state by state and visits places that average Americans probably never heard of- very interesting places full of interesting people. Fry doesn't just visit each state, he gets to know some of the people and tries his hand at some of their jobs- coal mining, lobstering, farming, etc., And he avoids the usual locations- his trip to New York State doesn't include Times Square, but up-state deer hunting. He doesn't just visit and encouter people and places, he tells you what he thinks of them. And if you don't already know Stephen Fry, you will find his insights refreshing and always interesting. If you do know Fry, then this book is just what you hoped it would be; I have never read a travel book filled with so many smiles and laughs and ideas. Regarding the 3-star review on this page, the British spelling of many words is close to, but different from, ours. Words like tire and color aren't misspelled, they are just spelled the British way.